The Dr. Jane’s HealthyPetNet Foundation takes pride in the hard work of all its grant recipients, but the Palmetto Animal League (PAL) represents the best and noblest of rescue enterprises. PAL boasts a remarkable success rate of placement – nearly 100% – with the average time a pet is fostered at less than four months. In the true spirit of caring, nurturing and rescue, they work to avoid euthanasia at all costs. To their minds, there is no other option than to keep a dog or a cat as long as it takes to find them a forever home.

A private non-profit, the PAL organization has operated most of its 30 years using a network of volunteer foster families. Now, however, they are slowly transferring to the nearly completed construction of their first facility, the PAL’s Adoption Center. More...

A review of how probiotics work and why they are so important to good health.

Probiotics have received a great deal of attention lately, and this focus is absolutely justified. An increasing number of products, from yogurts to pet foods, contain probiotics. Often referred to as “healthy” and/or “friendly” bacteria (or microorganisms) in the media, their proper notation is “direct fed microbials” when used in pet foods. Basically, probiotics are helpful bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract. In fact, every digestive system contains millions of bacteria, both those with a healthful purpose (like probiotics) and some that are not so beneficial. While some kinds of bacteria can be harmful, many (like direct fed microbials) actually help the immune system adapt to internal changes within the body and thus naturally support good health. More...

For most pet parents, the mere prospect of a companion animal becoming sick
or injured can be frightening. In the event of an emergency, many pet parents
feel powerless to help, not knowing what to do to improve the likelihood of a
good outcome. However, you are not powerless to assist, and with minimal
preparation and some helpful knowledge, you can help your companion animal
successfully navigate an emergency situation. More...

I have been a pet product formulator for almost 25 years. Twelve of those
years, I have been privileged to develop premium health-related products for
Life's Abundance. Formulating dog and cat foods is normally a complex process; and, as a
holistic veterinarian, my unique health perspective helps to inform this
process. Each and every ingredient selected for a Life’s Abundance food is
chosen to support all of the important bodily structures and functions. That’s
why I am so proud that we have featured health-promoting direct fed microbials
in Life’s Abundance Premium Health Foods for years, well ahead of competing
foods. More...

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, a lawsuit was filed in a San Francisco Superior Court, which alleged that several popular brands of fish oil supplements have illegally undisclosed and unnecessarily high levels of contamination from toxic PCB compounds. Widely regarded as cancer-causing agents, PCB’s were outlawed from manufacture in 1979. The lawsuit names eight manufacturers and retailers of fish and fish liver oils (as well as shark and shark liver oils) which tested positive for PCB contamination that exceeded the limits approved for human consumption under California’s Proposition 65. The initial defendants named are CVS Pharmacy, Inc.; General Nutrition Corp. (GNC); Now Health Group, Inc.; Omega Protein, Inc.; Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand); Rite Aid Corp.; Solgar, Inc.; and TwinLab Corp.

These allegations should give consumers cause for grave concern. Although many currently marketed fish oil supplements feature claims of being “treated” to remove or reduce levels of PCB’s and other toxins, many fail to accurately state the residual levels of PCB’s remaining after “treatment”. This lack of disclosure leaves consumers completely in the dark, not knowing whether or not they are ingesting high levels of PCB’s when taking their omega-3 supplement. The allegations are deeply disturbing, as many consumers regularly take their supplements every day. More...